My Father’s Passing

 

I wrote up his obit and should be in the Globe and Mail this Wednesday.

Just felt I needed to share with the Ricochet friends.

MARCH, Roman Robert
(BA United College, MA Carleton, PHD Indiana University, Pilot Officer RCAF)

Born October 6th, 1935 in Winnipeg Manitoba. Passed away at his home this February at the age of 83. Survived by his sister Joyce (Edmonton), his step-brother Eddie (USA), daughter Kathryn (Cambridge), sons Bruce (Toronto) and David (Hamilton) and many nephews, great-nephews and great-nieces. Predeceased by his mother Maria March, his step-father Eugene March and step-brother Carl March.

Born of Polish immigrant parents, Roman grew up in rural Winnipeg and was involved in sports like swimming and wrestling while being an active Air Cadet. A chance encounter at a job interview at the age of 18 led to him pursuing a BA at United College in Winnipeg and paying for his education by serving in the Reserves and working night shift at a factory. During that time, he spent his summers in CAF base Baden-Baden, Germany where during the Suez Crisis he and many others were threatened by nuclear annihilation by Khrushchev.

Unable to pursue a piloting career due to his eyesight, Roman left the Airforce and became a teacher at United College in Winnipeg. Here he became involved in the famous Crowe Case that led to the formation of CUTA. He would be one of the 13 staff who resigned from the College over the case and eventually received the 2009 CUTA Milner Reward for his actions.

Roman took a position teaching in Fort Williams Ontario but left to earn an MA in Public Administration at MA in Public Administration at Carleton University and a PhD at Indiana University. He was hired as the first Canadian born Political Science professor in the Political Science department in the Humanities faculty at McMaster University where he remained for 25 years as an associate professor before retiring in the golden handshake period of the 1990s.

His famous book, The Myth of Parliament was published in 1974 by University of Toronto Press. The book gained much notoriety because it drew attention to the lack of parliamentary attendance by federal Members of Parliament. This work formed the basis of parliamentary reform efforts led by the Mulroney government and he was invited to testify before the Parliamentary Reform Committee about the situation.

Roman was self-governing in his political activism and supported the NDP, the Liberals and the Progressive Conservative Parties depending upon their political platform. He worked with Sheila Copps on her Hamilton Campaigns but supported his former student Progressive Conservative Peter James Peterson when he ran for office in 1984. His retirement years involved an active lifestyle while serving on the McMaster Retirees association and attending numerous events with that group.

A unique and independent person, Roman March was a man not soon to be forgotten. He lived his life on his own terms and left a mark on the world through his teaching, his politics and his personal life.

Visitation will be held at Marlatt Funeral Home-Swackhamer Chapel in Dundas (195 King St W.) on Feb 23rd from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral Service to be held at the Church of the Ascension in Hamilton (64 Forest Ave @ John St. S) on February 24th at 11 am with a reception following afterwards.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to St. Mathews House a food bank (https://stmatthewshouse.ca/).

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There are 23 comments.

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  1. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Thank you for sharing. My condolences to you and your family.

    Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
    And let the perpetual light shine upon them.
    And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

    • #1
  2. Seawriter Contributor
    Seawriter
    @Seawriter

    Memory Eternal. I can relate to the loss of a loved one.

    • #2
  3. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Looks like he led a full and rich life.  Our family sends its condolences for your loss.

    • #3
  4. GLDIII Reagan
    GLDIII
    @GLDIII

    Losing one’s Dad earlier than expected is heart weary. From your Dad’s birthday I see our father’s were contemporaries, and I will be marking 8 years this April since his passing, and it is still not that easy.

    My condolences for the loss of your Father.

    • #4
  5. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Condolences to you and your family.

    • #5
  6. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    Your father sounds like quite the guy.  Prayers for you and your family.

    • #6
  7. Judithann Campbell Member
    Judithann Campbell
    @

    I am so sorry; condolences and prayers.

    • #7
  8. Pugshot Inactive
    Pugshot
    @Pugshot

    I lost my father in 2008 at the age of 88, so I have some sense of what you’re going through. All I can tell you is that you will be sustained by all the good memories you have of him. I think of my father just about every day. I wish God’s peace for you.

    • #8
  9. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Thank you for sharing this with us, @torywarwriter!  What an impact your father had, in so many ways…Prayers for his peaceful rest – and consolation for you all – as you remember and carry his legacy forward.  Peace be with you all!

    • #9
  10. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    I am so sorry for your loss.  Words fail.

    • #10
  11. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    Reading this obituary put me in mind of the summaries I have written thus far and those that I will, no doubt, write in the all-too-near future. To sum up a life in so few words is such a challenge. @torywarwriter, you did it beautifully.

     

    • #11
  12. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    I am sorry you have lost your dad. It is a difficult moment in life. Peace be with you.

    • #12
  13. Clavius Thatcher
    Clavius
    @Clavius

    Condolences on your loss.  Your well written obituary would make him proud.

    • #13
  14. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    My sincerest condolences to you and your family.

    • #14
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    My condolences and may you find comfort and solace in your people and tranquility in its own time.

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    So sorry for your loss, Tory. You must have been very proud of him.

    • #16
  17. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Tory – that was so beautifully written and remembered.  I have to think that with such a full life, that he was a lucky and fulfilled man – you are so fortunate to have had him as a dad – however, he lives on through you – God bless him and your whole family.

    • #17
  18. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    A life well-lived and a tribute well-written. God bless you, Tory.

    • #18
  19. Mim526 Inactive
    Mim526
    @Mim526

    Well done, Tory.   Such an honorable tribute to your father.  May your memories of him be blessed as you grieve his loss.

    • #19
  20. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    A fine tribute to a man’s life. Sorry for your loss, TWW.

    • #20
  21. twvolck Inactive
    twvolck
    @twvolck

    Comdolences: it’s tough to lose someone you have known all your life.

    What was the Crowe case.?  No doubt it is famous, but I’ve never heard of it.  And what is CUTA?

     

    • #21
  22. Ansonia Member
    Ansonia
    @Ansonia

    A well written tribute to the life of a good and interesting man. I’m so sorry for your loss.

    • #22
  23. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    Heres the Crowe case.  Its a founding of a Professors union in Canada and CUTA was the group.  It apparently was a big deal and my father was on the edge of it.  One of the people who resigned in protest.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_S._Crowe

    • #23
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